Real Tax Reform Now (styled Real Tax Reform Now!) was an organization that promoted a tax reform plan intended to create jobs, support and expand small businesses, and reduce the tax rate for families. While the organization was formally nonpartisan, its directors and advisors included people with ties to the Republican Party. ^{1 2 3}

Activities

Real Tax Reform Now started a Change.org petition to then-Senate Finance Chair Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on September 8, 2016, in support of tax policy changes that would be fair to all Americans and simplify the tax code. The petition stated that tax reform would allow for job creation, economic growth, and competitiveness in the global marketplace and had 17 supporters when it closed. ⁴

Financials

Real Tax Reform Now was funded by undisclosed donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. Real Tax Reform Now’s last tax return was filed in 2016. ⁵

Board of Directors

Charles Akerlow is a principal owner of Zenith Partners. Akerlow is the former executive director of Real Tax Reform Now, a former chair of the Utah Republican Party, and a former member of the Republican National Committee. ⁶

Other members of the board included Arlen B. Crouch, chair; Timothy Cory, vice chair; and James W. Ritchie. ⁷

Board of Advisors

Val Oveson is a Republican politician and former Lieutenant Governor of Utah and former chair of the advisory board of Real Tax Reform Now. ⁸

Other members of the advisory board included Scott Pickett, Eric Jergensen, and Larry Lunt. ⁹

1. “Lieutenant Governor of Utah.” Ballotpedia. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Utah.
2. “About Us.” Zenith Partners. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://www.zenithpartners.org/about-us/.
3. “About Real Tax Reform Now.” Facebook. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/RTRN2020/about_details.
4. “Real Tax Reform Now.” Change.org. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://www.change.org/p/senate-finance-chairman-orrin-hatch-real-tax-reform-now.
5. “Real Tax Reform Now Inc.” GuideStar. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/Profile/81-0939799.
6. “About Us.” Zenith Partners. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://www.zenithpartners.org/about-us/.
7.  Real Tax Reform Now Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2016, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
8. “Lieutenant Governor of Utah.” Ballotpedia. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Utah
9. “About Real Tax Reform Now.” Facebook. Accessed September 25, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/RTRN2020/about_details.